Hydraulic squeezing and drilling device



Jan. 2, 1962 ROWLAND 3,015,361

HYDRAULIC SQUEEZING AND DRILLING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1960 "W 1'; la 2g?70 A90 32 l I F E E1 3 34 I 1 6+ x 5 3 V Z\ I 2 v 3g v 48 I \f FlGJ/ 6.30 34 W A 30 21 4 4 FIG-4 I I E. A n 2 0 58 DOUGLAS ng g v yl No H6 2FIG. 1A

ATTOR NEY 3,015,361 HYDRAULIC SQUEEZING AND DRILLING DEVICE Douglas H.Rowland, 6317 Forest Lane, Dallas, Tex. Filed Jan. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 2758 Claims. (Cl. 166-101) The present invention relates to the oilindustry and more particularly to a tool to be used in combination witha fluid circulating drill string, or the like, where high pressures areneeded within the bore hole.

In drilling and completing an oil well it is frequently necessary toprovide some means for generating a relatively high pressure of thefluid within the bore hole for cementing, squeezing, sand tracing orother purposes. This high pressure is usually required at or adjacentthe formation being cemented 01f or sand traced, thus requiring, withmost conventional cementing equipment, pressurizing the fluid within thedrill string, or the like, from the surface of the hole to the positionin the well where the high pressure is needed. Obviously, this requiresa considerable amount of fluid as well as high pressure pumps, or thelike, in Order to generate the required pressure in the drill string ofthe well.

it is, therefore, the principal object of the instant invention toprovide a tool adapted to be connected to a string of drill pipe, or thelike, and lowered into a bore hole by which high fluid pressures may begenerated within the hole.

Another object is to provide a tool which will generate a hydraulic typeof pressure using the fluid circulated through the drill string andwhich pressure is generated within the tool and applied at or adjacentthe point in the bore hole where pressure is desired withoutpressurizing the fluid in the remainder of the drill string.

Another object is to provide a drilling string tool for generatingrelatively high fluid pressures within the tool to be applied to thebore hole which will permit passage of the drilling fluid through thetool before and after generating the desired high pressure.

Another object is to provide a tool of this class for use in connectionwith the drill string wherein the tool will transmit torque, applied tothe drill string, to a drilling bit, or the like, on the lowermost endof the tool or on a continuation of the drill string.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providingan elongated sleeve or cylinder within which an elongated centrallybored piston is slidably received. The upper end of the piston isconnected with a mandrel slidably received within an adapter fortransmitting torque to the cylinder. The upper end portion of themandrel is threaded for connection with a drill string and includesmeans releasably engageable with the upper end portion of the adapterfor supporting the remainder of the device when running or pulling thelatter with the drill string. Valve means, carried by the lower end ofthe piston, permits circulation of drilling fluid downwardly through thedevice. The depending end of the cylinder is threadedly connected with asub-joint which may in turn be connected with a drill string or drillingbit or other tools. The upper end of the subjoint is provided with valvemeans which precludes reverse flow of the circulated fluid. Otherobjects will be apparent from the-following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying single sheet of drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of theupperend'portion of the device;

FIGURE 1A is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the central portionof the device, forming a continuation of the lower end portion'of FIG.1; Y

United States Patent M member, for holding the springs in place.

3,015,361 Patented Jan. 2,1962

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, ofthe lowerend portion of the device, forming a continuation of FIG. 1A;

FEGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially alongline 22 of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially alongline 3-3 of FIG. 1A; and

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially alongline 4-4 of FIG. 1A. j

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures ofthe drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates the device, as a Whole, which iscylindrical in general configuration. The device 10 includes anelongated cylinder or sleeve 12 threadedly connected, as at 14, with anadapter 16 having an abrupt upper end 18 perpendicular with respect toits longitudinal axis. The adapter 16 slidably receives an elongatedmandrel 20 having a central bore 22 therethrough. The periphery of themandrel, .throughout the greater portion of its length, is preferablypolygonal, square in the example shown, but which may be elliptical orof any other desired shape. The bore of the adapter 16 is co-operatinglyformed to slidably receive the mandrel 20. The upper end portion of themandrel 20 is circumferentially enlarged and elongated, as at 24. Thisend portion 24 is internally threaded, as at 26, for connection with adrill string, or the like, not shown. The mandrel end portion 24terminates downwardly in an abrupt shoulder 28 adapted to seat on theupper end 18 of the adapter 16 for the purposes more fully disclosedhereinbelow. The end portion 24 is provided with a plurality, four inthe example shown, of latching members 30 which are verticallypositioned within a like plurality of vertically elongated slots 32formed in the end portion 24 and pivotally connected thereto,intermediate their ends, by transverse pins 34. A spring 36 isinterposed between the upwardly disposed end of each latch member 30 andthe inward surface of themandrel forming the respective slot 32. Thesprings 36 are each nested by a co-operative socket 38, formed in therespective latch' Each of the latch members 30 project downwardly beyondthe shoulder.28 and are each formed to define an inwardly directedhook-shape 39 for entering similar co-operatingly formed slots 40 formedin the upper end portion of the adapter 16. A pin 42 extendstransversely of each of the slots 40 with which the hook portion 39, ofeach latch, is engaged when the shoulder 28 contacts the adapter end 18for the purposes morefully described hereinbelow. A pressure actuatedplug member 44 is positioned within suitable cylindrical sockets orrecesses formed in the wall of the end portion 24 in communication withthe bore thereof. The respective plug member has an arcuate end portion45 in contact with the adjacent surface of the respective latch 30. Eachof the plug members 44 are forced outwardly by the drilling fluid, whenthe latter is under pressure, for maintaining the latches 30 inoutwardly disposed pin released position, as shown in FIG. 1. Adjacentits lower end, the mandrel wall is provided with a plurality of ports 23for communication between the bores of the mandrel 20 and sleeve 12. 1 l

The lower end of the mandrel 20 is threadedlyconnected with an elongatedcentrally bored-piston 46 closely received by the bore of the. sleeve12. A plurality of piston rings. 48 seal with the sleeve 12, for thepurposes more fully disclosed hereinbelow. 'A valve head 50 isthreadedly connected to the depending end of the piston 46 and isprovided with a seat 52 at its lower end. A valve 54, having an axiallyconnected upwardly projecting stem 56, is normally seated on the valveseat 52 by a spring 5 8 interposed between ..valve. guides 60 and 62.

' The valve guide 60'is held 3 t in place by the valve head 5 while theguide 62 is freely received by the bore of the piston for verticalreciprocating movement with the valve stem when the valve is opened andclosed.

The depending end of the sleeve 12 is threadedly connected with acentrally" bored sub-joint 64 having a threaded lower end 66 forconnection with a drill string, drill bit, or other tools. Similarly, avalve head 68 is threadedly connected with the upper end of the sub 64and is similarly provided with a valve seat 70 at its lower end whichseats a valve 72 having an upwardly projecting axially connected stem73, normally held in closed position by a spring 74, similarlyinterposed between valve stem guides 76 and 78.

Operation tiorial shoe or tool, not shown, is connected with the de- 7pending end of the sub-joint 64 and one or more packers, of the typeexemplified by United States Patent No. 2,373,005, issued'to Baker OilTools on April 3, 1945, or anysuitable conventional well packer such asthose presently available under the trade names of Halliburton orGuiberson, not shown, may be connected with the sleeve 12 at itsopposing end portions for positioning the latter at the desired holedepth. Normally only one packer is connected to the sleeve 12 so thatfluid pressure may be forced into the annulus of the bore hole below thepacker through the sub-joint 64 or through the ports 80. 5 However, whenusing the device to perform a squeeze job through casing perforations apacker set at each opposing end portion of the sleeve limits the area 7closed off so that cement in a fluid statemay be forcibly ejectedthrough the ports 80 to pressure fill such cased manner for drilling, orthe like, since torque applied to the drill string is transmitted to thesleeve by the mandrel Z0 whil e a predetermined portion of the weight ofthe 'drill'string may be applied to the drill bit. When it is desired touse the tool to generate fluid pressure, the drilling operation isstopped and the packer or packers are set, which prevents verticalmovement of the sleeve 12 and all of the drill pipe, if any, connectedto the subjoint64. The drillingmud or fluid, not shown, when icirculatedunder pressure by the conventional mud circulatin'g pumps, forces theplug members '44 outwardly, thus releasing the hooks 39 from contactwith the pins and permits the mandrel and piston 46 to be raised thatthe upper end portion of the piston 46 is adjacent the lower end of theadapter 16. Drilling fluid circulation is then stopped and the drillstring is lowered rapidly whereby the piston '46 compresses the fluidcontained by the sleeve 12 and forcibly ejects this fluid through thebore of the sub joint 64 or other tools. The ports 23 permit fluid, inthe annulus between the mandrel 20 and the sleeve 12, to enter the boreof the mandrel 20 as the piston 46 is raised relative to the sleeve.Similarly fluid may enter this annulus, from the bore of the mandrel,

*when' the piston 'is lowered in its fluid pressurizing function. Ifdesired, ports -80, may be formed in the wall of "the sleeve adjacentits connection with the sub-joint 64 for directingfa' pressurized streamof fluid laterally of the sleeve. Obviously, acid, cement in' a fluidstate or other fluids may be used in place of the drilling mud or fluid.Downward movement of the piston is limited or stopped by the shoulder 28contacting the adapter end 18 wherein the latches 30 again engage thepins 42 for "pulling the device when removing the drill string from thehole. This pressuring of the fluid may be repeated as desired Withoutremoving the device from the hole.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alterationwithout defeating its practicability,'and I therefore do not wish to beconfined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and describedherein, further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

. 1. A hydraulic pressure generating device adapted to be lowered into awell bore on the lower end of a string of fluid circulating drill pipe,comprising: .an elongated cylindrical sleeve having a bore of reduceddiameter in its upper end portion; pins transversely secured to theupper end portion of said sleeve; a centrally bored mandrel slidablycarried within said sleeve and projecting upwardly beyond the upper endportion of said sleeve and adapted to be connected to said drill pipe; acentrally bored piston coaxially connected with said mandrel within saidsleeve; closure means carried by the depending end of said piston toprevent fluidflow upward through the bore of the latter when the pistonislowered with respect to said sleeve; piston rings carried bysaidpiston intermediate its ends in sealing contact with the inner wall ofsaid sleeve; and spring urged latch means carried by the upper endportion of said mandrel and engage able with said pins for lifting saidsleeve with said mandrel after downward movement of the latter.

2. A hydraulic pressure generating device adapted to be lowered into awell bore on the lower end of a string of fluid circulating drill pipe,comprising: an elongated cylindrical sleeve having a threaded lower endand having a bore of reduced diameter in its upper end portion; pinssecured to the upper end portion of said sleeve; a centrally boredmandrel vertically reciprocable in said cylindrical sleeve and closelyreceived by the bore of the reduced diameter, said mandrel adapted to beconnected at its upper end with said drill pipe; a'centrally boredpiston connected with said mandrel within said sleeve; valve meanscarried bysaid piston for preventing fluid flow upwardly through thebore of said piston; and spring urged .latoh means carried by the upperend portion of said mandrel and engageable with said pins for liftingsaid sleeve with said nrandrel after downward movement of the latter.

3. A hydraulic squeezing and drilling-device, comprising: an elongatedcylindrical sleeve having a bore of reduced dimensions in its upper'endportion; pins transversely secured to the upper end portion of saidsleeve; a centrally bored mandrel slid-ably received closely'by thereduced bore within said sleeve and extending upwardly beyond the upperend of said sleeve and adapted for connection with the lower end portionof a string of drill ipe; a piston connected with said mandrel withinsaid sleeve and having a valve seat formed on its lowermost end; va lveguides said piston adjacent said valve seat; a valve seated on saidvaive seat for closing and opening the bore of said piston, said valvehaving a stern slidab-ly received by said valve guides; spring meansinterposed between said valve guides for normally maintaining said valvein closed position; a plurality of piston ringscarried by the peripheryof said piston intermediate its ends; spring urged pivoting latch means.carried by the upper end portion of said mandrel and releasablyengageable with said pins for lifiting-said sleeve; with said mandrelafter downward movement, of the latter; and pressure plug cry of saidmandrel is substantially square shaped and in which the wall of saidsleeve defining the bore of reduced dimensions through said uppermostannular shoulder is co-operatively formed for sliding contact with thesurfaces of said mandrel for rotating said sleeve when said mandrel isrotated by the drill pipe.

5. A hydraulic squeezing and drilling device, comprising: an elongatedcylindrical sleeve; an adapter connected to the upper end of saidsleeve, said adapter having a square bore, and having a plurality ofslots in its upper end portion; pins carried by said adapter andextending transversely through each respective slot therein; a centrallybored mandrel, square in horizontal cross section, slidably received bythe bore of said adapter, said mandrel having an enlarged upper endportion adapted to be connected with drill pipe and having a likeplurality of outwardly open slots vertically aligned with the slots insaid adapter; a like plurality of latch members pivotally supportedintermediate their ends within the slots in said mandrel, each saidlatch member having a hook-shaped end portion depending from theenlarged portion of said mandrel; spring means within each slot in saidmandrel above the pivot point of said latch members and normallypositioning the-hook-shaped end portion of each respective latch membertoward engagement with the respective said pin; pressure plug memberscarried by said mandrel in communication with the bore thereof andcontacting the adjacent surface of each respective said latch member,said plug members being responsive to fluid pressure within said mandrelfor forcing the hook-shaped end portions of said latch members outwardlytoward pin released position; a centrally bored piston connected withthe depending end of said mandrel within said sleeve; and valve meanscarried by the depending end of said piston for preventing upward flowof fluid therethrough when said piston is lowered relative to saidsleeve.

6. Structure as specified in claim 5 and a centrally bored sub-jointconnected to the depending end of said sleeve; and valve means canied bythe upper end of said subjoint for preventing upward flow of fluid intosaid sleeve.

7. A hydraulic squeezing and drilling device, comprising: an elongatedcylindrical sleeve; an adapter connected to the upper end of saidsleeve, said adapter having a square bore, and having a plurality ofvertically disposed slots in its upper end portion; pins carried by saidadapter and extending transversely through each respective slot therein;a centrally bored mandrel, square in horizontal cross section, slidablyreceived by the bore of said adapter, said mandrel having an enlargedupper end portion adapted to be connected with drill pipe and having alike plurality of outwardly open slots vertically aligned with the slotsin said adapter; a like plurality of latch members pivotally supportedintermediate their ends within the slots in said mandrel, each saidlatch member having a hook-shaped end portion depending firom theenlarged portion of said mandrel; spring means interposed between theupper end portion of each said latch member and the wall of said mandrelfor pivoting the hook-shaped end of each said latch member toward pinengaging position; pressure plug members carried by said mandrel incommunication with the bore thereof and contacting the adjacent surfaceof each respective said latch member below the pivot point of thelatter, said plug members being responsive to fluid pressure within saidmandrel for compressing said spring means and maintaining said latchmembers in released position; a centrally bored piston connected withthe depending end of said mandrel within said sleeve; and valve meanscarried by the depending end of said piston for preventing upward flowof fluid therethrough when said piston is lowered relative to saidsleeve.

8. Structure as specified in claim 7 and a centrally bored sub-jointconnected to the depending end of said sleeve; and valve means carriedby the upper end of said subjoint for preventing upward flow of fluidinto said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,158,292 Rigby Oct. 26, 1915 2,156,709 Taylor May 2, 1939 2,332,144Hanes Oct. 19, 1943 2,629,444 ODonnell Feb. 24, 1953 2,842,211 McGaiTeyJuly 8, 1958

